Ashes 2013-14: Australia v England, third Test, day four – in pictures

The blazing Perth sunshine isn't just making it hard work for the players, the Waca ground staff have their work cut out too as the widening cracks on the pitch show Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Steve Smith has his game face on as he takes to the pitch, no doubt intent on playing his part in heaping more humiliation England's way Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Smith's batting partner Shane Watson carries on where he left off on day three, thwacking England's bowlers around Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Steven Smith looks back as Ian Bell fields the ball back to teammate Matt Prior. Smith was dismissed on 15 after swiping Ben Stokes's short delivery high and deep to Jonny Bairstow on the mid-wicket boundary. The Australians are 301-4 Photograph: David Gray/Reuters

Watson continutes collecting runs at the rate of knots and in no time at all reaches his century. He's quite pleased Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

As are his team-mates, coaching staff and the Aussie fans as they rise to their feet and applaud Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Just three runs later Watson is joining his team-mates in the dressing room as England get rid of the big hitter. Watson skied one from Tim Bresnan's first delivery and the simple catch is dropped by Ian Bell. A quick-thinking Bresnan picks up the ball and runs Watson out with a frustrated but accurate throw to the bowlers end. Not a textbook dismissal but England will take it anyway Photograph: David Gray/Reuters

Brad Haddin skies a Bresnan delivery which Graeme Swann gratefully receives Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

George Bailey compounds England's misery when he starts swishing his bat around, including taking 28 runs off one James Anderson over, so it's no wonder he looks like he is enjoying himself. Australia declare on 369-6 and lead by a mighty 504 runs Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Just when you think things can't get any worse … the first ball of England's innings is a humdinger of a delivery by Ryan Harris which sends Alastair Cook's bails tumbling Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The Aussies are understandably jubilant as England's captain trudges off Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

Now that's just cruel. The only good thing about Cook's golden duck is that it hasn't altered this amazing stat Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Thankfully the tourists' other opener, Michael Carberry, is able to get England's innings going Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

As does Cook's replacement Joe Root, who survived an LBW review Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The Australians were however successful on their next LBW appeal when Shane Watson gets one to swing past Carberry's bat and onto the pad. The England opener was on 31 when dismissed, almost precisely his average for the series as a whole which stands at 31.33, with a high score of 60. Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images

A contorted and twisting Brad Haddin takes a breathtaking catch to send Joe Root back to the pavillion Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

That means Kevin Pietersen takes to the field and it looks like he is keen to exorcise the memories of his uncomfortable first innings as he starts hitting a few boundaries … Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

As well as surviving an attempted stumping by just making it back to the crease in time Photograph: Tony Ashby/AFP/Getty Images

Though his luck runs out just five runs short of his 50 when he skies a Nathan Lyon delivery ... Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

… straight to Ryan Harris out on the boundary Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Mitchell Johnson fast bowler Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Ian Bell is batting consistently and gets to 60 before he's given out following a review, Snicko having registered a noise as Siddle's delivery passed his bat on its way to Haddin Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Australian wicket keeper Brad Haddin and the slip cordon take their positions Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Ben Stokes reaches an impressive half-century, the first of his young Test career Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Matt Prior bats as the shadows lengthen and the end of the day's play approaches Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Ben Stokes, right, and Matt Prior leave the pitch after the completion of the day's play. One of the few positives from the day was the innings of Stokes who played beautifully on his way to 72. England close at 251-5, chasing 504 as they bid to save the series Photograph: Theron Kirkman/AP